Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-07-14
THE NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 4th, 1887.


Controller of the Treasury Trenholm,
in the matter of the suspension Of the
Fidelity National Bank of Cincinnati,
has acted with promptness and vigor
becoming the dignity and responsibility
OF the Government, and the catastro-
phe is not without its lessons and uses,
as it shows the unquestioned superior
ity of our National Banking system
over all others in the world, for ours is
being rapidly recognized as the model
for most civilized nations. When, for
instance, this bank suspended, what
man in the United States stopped for a
moment to examine whether or not he
had one of its bills? Realizing the fact
that if all the banks of the country
were to break in a day, the Govern
ment would'be fully responsible as long
as United States bond is good for its
face value, and most of them are worth
a great deal more.
There is quite ripple in the great
and good Civil Service Commission
over somewhat embittered disagree
ment about the question of paying the
expenses of the several local civil SER
vice boards while on their recent junk
citing visit TO this city, but 1 hardly
think the controversy will be as i'm
portant as the proverbial tempest in a
teapot. How sad to see that even this
august body is subject to the same in
firmities of temper as are ordinary
people.
The changes in the different Depart
ments incident to the beginning of the
new fiscal year were not numerous or
important. Twenty Treasury clerks
were dismissed, also seven in the
Quarter Master Generals Office and
forty employed in the Government
Printing Office, most of the discharges
being made on account of the appro-
priation bill failing to provide for a
continuance of the incumbents. The
order consolidating revenue districts
went into effect at the same time and
also the 20 per cent. reduction in
salaries of Assistant District Attorneys;
there were few minor clerical changes
in nearly all the Departments.
Under the beneficial methods of our
honest and upright Democratic Ad
ministration the reduction of the pub
lie debt continues steadily, the amount
for the month of June being about $15,-
100000, which is pretty good show
ing.
Of 81 clerks in the Quarter Master
Generals Office, who were examined
under the new Civil Service rules, six
men and two women failed to attain
the minimum of rs out of a possible 100.
The following fact is regarded of much
significance by the Commission. Be-
fore the examination, the Quarter
Master General had made markings for
efficiency and kept them secret, for
comparison with those of the examin-
ers aud it turned out that both mark
ings were substantially the same, q |
result highly satisfactory to the Com
mission, as it tends to disprove the
charge of favoritism in the ratings.
During the last fiscal year the PEN
sion office issued Ill $40, certificates,
which is said to be the best showing
ever made by the Bureau. 1t is also
said that there is not case in the PEN
sion Office that has not been examined
ia that time and the proper action
taken to prepare it for final settlement,
arecord that is exceedingly gratifying
to the officials of that bureau.
1t dynamite bomb had exploded in
the corridors Of the Patent Office the
other day, there could not have been
much greater commotion among the
army of Republican clerks than when |
1t was made public, that, after patient
investigation, the accounts of Levi Ba-
con, protege of Zack Chandler's, who
dled few days since, after having been |
many years financial clerk of the Patent |
Ot1ce-dying In the position, were short |
over $3S 200. Who can blame these
republican clerks for holding a eulogis- |
tic meeting over the dead defaulter, for |
they knew he held their due bills for |
thousand of dollars unfawfully advanced |
to them out of the public funds? Many |
of the clerks will not have any salary in |
three months, as Secretary Lamar will
deducttherefrom their dues. The bonds |
men VIII have to pay the full amount |
for which they are responsible, $4,000,
1t Is thought there will be considera-
BILE shortage after the clerks are made
to refund, as most of the sum is in |
paper on Bacon's outside friends. 1t |
appears that his accounts have been |
crooked eight years. The Democrats |
can afford to raise great deal of such |
unsavory remarks as "Bacon out of Of |
nce." "Turn the rascals out" In the |
words of the noble lamented Hend-
ricks, "Open the books" Mr.. John
u. Norris, of this city, one of Bacon's
pondsmen, now expresses his emphatic |
conviction, to use the language of the
great and honored Tilden, that ere
form is necessary" and says he be-
lieves that the accounts of other dis
bursting officers of the Government,
will, If fully Investigated, be found in as
bad condition as those ofthe esteemed
Bacon.
Astatement prepared by the Treasury
Department shows that in the month Of
June, there was an increase of $2,664,-
$40, in the circulation and decrease of
$3, 1921 ,931 of the cash in the Treasury.
The principal increase in the circulation
was in silver certificates and United |
States notes and the principal decrease
in the Treasury cash was in gold and |
silver certificates United State notes and |
nation bank notes.